Electric switch, (flush, surface, push-button)



W. l. NEWTON.

ELECTMC SWITCH (FLUSH, SURFACE, PUSH BUTTON).

APPLICATION FILED N0'vl18. 1918.

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INVENTOR g 1 WWW-6W ATTORNEY W. l. NEWTON.

ELECTRIC SWITCH (FLUSH,SURFACE, PUSH BUTTON). APPLICATION FILED NOV. 18, I918.

1 3%6 550 P mmed July 13 19%.,

C 2,5,5 ETSSHEET 2- F r. 6 F; X [y 9/ 44 a 45 n K 5/ 17 KNVENTOR WILLIAM J'. NEWTON, F BBIDGEPORT, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOB T0 HARVEY HUBBELL, INCORPORATED, 01F BBIDG'EPORT, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION 0F CONNECTIGUT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH, (FLUSH, SURFACE, PUSH-BUTTON.)

intense.

bpeci'fication of Letters rarest.

Patented July t3, 122th.

Application filed November 18, 1918. Serial No. 262,958.

To all whom ii'rmay concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM J. NEWTON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bridgeport, county of Fairfield, State of.

it practicallyinstantaneous make and break,

the vital feature of the invention being that the movable contacts are carried by a swinging contact member'and remain in either the open circuit or closed circuit position until a blow is delivered upon the contact member by an actuating member, itself controlled by a powerful spring acting upon a toggle joint, the contact member remaining in either position without any movement whatever until the blow is delivered and then rnoving'g-instantly to the reverse position.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification l have illustrated the application of the invention to flush, surface and push button switches.

. Figure 1 is a plan view of a. surface switch, the face plate being indicated by dotted lines;

Fig. 2 a longitudinal section on the line 2-2 in Fig. 1 looking in the direction of'the arrows;

Fig. 3 a longitudinal section on the line 33 in Fig. 1,1oohing in the direction of the arrows Fig. 4: a longitudinal section on the line 4-4 in Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 5 a transverse section on the line 5--5 in Fig. 4t, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 6 a plan view ofca surface switch complete;

Fig. 7 moved;

Fig. 8 a section on the line 8-8 in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

a similar view with the cap reof the first order.

Fig. 9 a section on the line 9-9 in Fig. 7, looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig; 10 a plan View of a push button switch, the face plate being removed;

Fig. 11 a longitudinal section on the line 11-11 in Fig. 10, looking in the direction of the arrows, and

- Fig. 12 is a perspective view of the swing ing contact member detached.

As the types of switches illustrated differ only in details of construction, I shall use, so far 'as practicable, the same reference numerals in describing the several forms of the invention which I have illustrated.

The important elements of the invention are the operating member 20, the toggle arm- -21, the actuating member 22, the spring 23,

the contact member 24, contacts carried by said member, a frame 26 by which said parts are carried, and fixed contacts 27.

Turning now to Figs. 1 to '5, inclusive, 28 denotes the upper insulating block of a flush switch, 29'the lower'insulating block, 30 the top plate, and 31 screws by which said parts aresecured together. Within the insulating blocks is a recess 32 which receives the frame and the parts carried thereby, the frame being secured to the lower insulating block by screws 33. The fixed contacts are formed upon contact carriers 34: which. are provided with binding screws 35 and are secured to the lower insulating block by s'rirews 36.

I The operating member 20 is pivoted to the frame, the present instance, in a hub 37 forming part of the frame and is a lever The toggle joint consists of the inner arm of the operating lever and the toggle arm, indicated 2;l. .llhe toggle arm is provided with ahead 38 having a notch to receive across. pin 39 in a slot in the inner end of the operating member. The actuating member comprises a strip of metal bent to la -shape, the branches of which are pivoted to the "trainees: at d0.

shown as "upon the inner face of the cross piece, which may or may not be used as preferred. The s ring 23, 1n the present instance, is a rela 'lvely strong comprestit? The inner end of the toggle arm passes Mitt sion spring, surrounds the toggle arm and Y bears against. the head of said arm and against the cross piece, or against theangle 'piece if used, washers 42 being interposed pieces of the "contact member are pivoted on the outer side of the side pieces of the frame. The cross pieces of the contact member are spaced apart far enough to give full effect to the blows of the actuating member as will be more fully explained. In the present instance I have shown two pairs offixed contacts 27, and two pairs of contacts carried by the contact member. Contacts 25 are formed at the ends of metallic strips 46 which are effectually insulated.

The operation is brieflyas follows: In Figs. L to 5, inclusive, the parts are shown in the open circuit position. As the operating member is swung toward the center from the position shown, the spring will be compressed and will move the toggle to its neutral position. The actuating member will move away from the cross piece of the contact member with which it has been in engagement, but no movement can be imparted to the contact member until thetoggle has passed its neutral position. As soon as the toggle has passed this position the entire expansive power of the spring will be exerted to cause the actuatmg member to move forward instantly and strike a relatively powerful blow upon the other cross piece of the contact member, the effect of which is to throw the contact member instantly to the other extreme of its movement and either open or close the circuit, in the present instance, a closing of the circuit is produced. It is important to note that no movement of the contact member can be produced except by a blow of the actuating member, thus the danger of arcing is practically eliminated. It should be noted furthermore that the movements of the contact member receive a positive stop through the engagement of the cross pieces of the frame.

Turning now to Figs. 6v to '9,-inclusive, which illustrate the application of the invention to a surface switch,-47 denotes an insulating base to which the frame is secured by screws 48. The fixed contacts,indicated by 27 as before, are formed upon plates 49 which are secured to the base by screws 50.

The construction and operation of the essen- The actuating member lies between pieces with the side operative positionst,

is provided with a lug 53 which is pivoted to I an end of the cross arm.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. In a switch, the combination of a swinging contact member, a swinging actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm one end of which is pivoted to the operating member, the other end having operative connection with the actuating member, the operating member and the toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, coeperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, and means acting to cause the actuating member to be accelerated to strike the contact member when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center in either direction, the contact member remaining in either .the open circuit or closed circuit position until it receives the blow of the actuating member.

2; In a switch, the combination of a' swinging contact member, an actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm one end of which is pivoted to the operating member, the other end having sliding engagement with the actuating member, the operatingmember and the toggle arm com- .prising a toggle oint, coeperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating mem bers spaced in inoperative positions, and a spring acting to cause the actuating member to be accelerated to strike the contact member when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center, the contact member remaining in either the circuit opening or circuit closing position until it receives a blow from the actuating member.

3. In a switch, the combination of a swinging contact member, an actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm having a head pivotally connected to the operating member, the other end of the tcggle arm having operative engagement with the actuating member, the operating member and the toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, coeperati've engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inand a spring bearing against the head 0 the operating 'armand against the actuating member and acting to cause the actuating member to be accelerated to strike the contact member and throw it to the opposite extreme of its movement when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center.

i. In a switch, the combination of a frame, a contact member, a U -shaped actuating member pivoted thereto, an operating member independently pivoted to the frame, a toggle arm pivoted to the operating member and having a head, the other end of said toggle arm passing through the cross-piece of the actuating member, and a compression spring bearing against the head of the toggle arm and against the cross-piece of the actuating member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, and the spring acting to throw the actuating member to the extreme of its movement causing it to strike the contact member and throw the latter to the extreme of its movement when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center.

5. In a switch, the combination of a swinging contact member, a swinging U-- shaped actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm pivoted to the operating member and passing through the cross-piece of the contact member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle-joint, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, and a spring compressed by the toggle action and acting against the actuating member to throw said member to the extreme of its movement causing the actuating member to be accelerated to strike the contact member and throw the latter to the extreme of its movement when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center.

6. In a switch, the combination of a swinging U-shaped actuating member, an operating member, a contact member, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, a toggle arm pivoted to the operating member and passing through the crosspiece of the actuating member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, an angle piece carried by said cross-piece and a spring compressed by the toggle action and adapted to bear against either angle of the angle piece to cause the actuating member to be accelerated to strike the contact member when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center, the blow of the actuating member throwing the contact member tothe opposite extreme of its movement.

7 In aswitch, the combination of a contact member, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in an operating member, and a spring controlled toggle connection between the operating member and the actuating-member, whereby the actuating member is caused to be accelerated to strike the' contact memberand throw it to the opposite extreme of its movement when the toggle connection is swung past its dead center.

8. In a switch, the combination of a contact member, an actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm pivotally connected to the operating member andhaving sliding connection with the actuating member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, cooperativeen gaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, and a spring acting to throw the toggle joint to the extreme of its movement when the joint is swung past its dead center, whereby the actuating member is caused'to' be accelerated to strike the contact member and throw it to the other extreme of its movement. I

9. In a switch, the combination of a contact'member, an actuating member, an operating member, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuatingmembers spaced in inoperative positions, a-tog'gle arm having sliding connection with the actuating memher and having a head pivotally connected to the operating member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, and a spring bearing on said head and on the actuating member whereby the latter is caused tobe accelerated to strike the contact member and throw it-to the other extreme of its movement when the toggle joint is swung past its dead center.

-10. In a switch, the combination of a contact member, a U-shaped actuating member,

an angle piece on the cross-piece of the actu ating member, an operating member, cooperative engaging parts on the contact and actuating members spaced in inoperative positions, a toggle arm having sliding con nection withthe actuating member and having a head pivotally connected to the oper' ating member, said operating member and toggle arm comprising a toggle joint, and a spring bearing against the head and against the angle piece whereby the actuating member is caused to be accelerated to strike the contact member and throw it to the other extreme of its movement when the toggle joint isswung past its dead center. v

11, In aswitch, the combination of a contact member, all-shaped actuating member, an angle piece carried by the actuating member, an operating member, a toggle arm having sliding "connection with the actuating member and having ,a head pivotally con; nected to the operating member, a compression spring carried by-the toggle arm, and

washers between the ends of the spring and said head and-said angle piece, respectively.

12. In a switch,-a frame a contact member cdmprising side pieces pivoted to the frame and spaced apart cross pieces, an actuating member independently pivoted to the frame and lying between the cross pieces normally in spaced relation therewith, an

operating member, a toggle arm pivoted-to the operating member-and havingrsliding connection with theactuating member, and a compression spring carried by the toggle arm, and bearing against the actuating member. Y Y

13. In a switch, a U-shaped frame, a contact member comprising side pieces pivoted outside the? side pieces of the frame and spaced apart cross pieces, a U-shaped actuating-member pivoted inside the side pieces of the frame and lying between the cross pieces of the contact member, an operating member, a toggle arm pivoted .to the operating member and having sliding connection with the actuating member, and a compression spring carried by the'to'ggle arm, whereby the actuating member is caused to strike a cross piece of the 'contact member and throw said member to the opposite extreme of itsmovement, the movement of the con-" the actuating memberat an extreme of its movement and causes the actuating memher to strike'a blow upon the contactmem' her and carry said member to be accelerated to the opposite extreme of its movement' when the toggle mechanism is swung past its deadcenter.

" 15. In a switch, vthe combination of a swinging. contact member, a swinging actuating member, and spring controlled toggle 'mechanism actin on the actuating member to normally retain both members at an excausing the actuating member to strike a blow upon the contact member when the toggle mechanism is swung past its neutral position.

'treme of their movement, said mechanism In testimony whereof alfix my signature.

WILLIAM J. NEWTON. 

